The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-19
STORY OF TWO HATS.
An Exchange OF Hsad-Gear which Caused
Considerable Merriment-

Considerable Merriment
A few years ago an amusing incident
occurred in the House Of Commons be-
tween two well-known members. One,
who for many years represented North
Warwickshire, was true specimen Of
an old English Tory gentlemen, some-
what solemn of visage and dress. while
the other, who is still member Of the,
House, is a prominent Irish Nationalist
They happened on this occasion to be
seated on the same bench. with their
hats placed beside them on the seat.
The two hats were, though both tall,
dissmilar in nearly every other respect;
the Tory members being high and
straight, with fiat, narrow brim-just
such hat as an old fogy who looks
with contempt upon the fashionable
hats of the present day would wear; but
the other gentleman's copper, If not in
the correct Bond street style, was rather
fetching in appearance, with its slightly
curved crown and neatly-curved brim.
An attendant passing card into the
House, with an intimation that con-
stituent was waiting in the hall to SEQ
the Irish member, he, apparently hav-
ing his attention fixed upon the name
on the card, rose, took a hat from tho
seat. and walked out of the House,
placing the hat upon his head. A
general litter of amusement took place
among the members and others as
sembled in the lobby and hall to see the
familiar figure of the Irish member with
hat on that might have belonged to
his grandfather, and his general ap-
pearance reminded most people that
saw him of celebrated character of
Dickens in the "Old Curiosity Shop"
1t happened at that moment division
was called, and the members summoned
into the chamber in the usual way,
when, just Us the question was about
to be put, the loud voice of the member
for North Warwickshire was heard call
ing the attention of Mr.. Speaker to a
point of order, for the worthy member,
being rare old stickler for question
being put in its proper order, thought
he could improve upon the form in
which the present one should be put.
Cries of "Order! Order!' rose from
all parts of the House, as it is custo-
mary for a member addressing the
House when the doors are closed for a
division to remain "seated and COW
ered." The member receiving re-
minder from another sitting near, at
once seized the hat beside him and
placed it upon his head. A loud roar
of laughter was heard from the whole
House, the Speaker being hardly ablo
to resist joining in, to see the worthy
old gentleman in his somber dress with
such a hat on as he had never before
been seen to wear during the forty
years of his parliamentary life. When
the merriment had subsidized and the
point of order was settled, the Irish
member, who had discovered his mis-
take of taking the wrong hat, resumed
his seat, and, with that keen sense of
humor he is known to possess, delighted
the House by putting on the hat he had
taken and assuming broad grin. The
two members sat side by side for few
seconds, one enjoying the amusement
the spectacle caused and the other
frowning his displeasure at the very un.
parliamentary proceeding. The hats
were then exchanged amid approving
cheers of the members.-London Times.